STAFF REPORTS
The Barton Middle School band scored the district’s only varsity-level “Sweepstakes” award in the recent 2010 competition held at the Performing Arts Center. Posing with their trophy in celebration back at their band hall are Director Bennie Sayger and the Bobcat Band. (Photo by Jim Cullen)
As has been the case in the past, judging at the 2010 Region UIL Middle School Band Contest was tough. By all measures, judges held Central Texas middle school musicians to a very high standard of excellence and Division 1 ratings were hard to come by.
Despite that fact, the Barton Middle School varsity-level band pulled off a Sweepstakes showing with overall Division 1 ratings in both Concert and Sightreading. Director Bennie Sayger’s Bobcats had only a single “2” from one judge to mar an otherwise perfect string of “1s.”
Chapa Middle School non-varsity band had the district’s only other Sweepstakes showing for its level. Additionally, varsity level results for Wallace and Chapa middle schools included 1st Divisions in Sightreading.
Barton’s Sayger, experienced in the district but new to the campus this year, says “this has been kind of a journey to this point. The kids did an outstanding job of working the entire year and I’m very pleased with their performance.”
Sayger says his top band “should be honored with their rating—I sure am!”
Dahlstrom Middle School Director Leroy Gerdes says of his varsity-level band’s 1st Division in always-tough Sightreading (and 2nd Division in Concert), “I am very proud of this young band in their amazing progress this year and I look forward to continued progress toward superior performance in the future!” Gerdes, as with observations common to many of his directing peers, expresses appreciation to his campus administrators, faculty and staff, and “wonderful, supportive parents.”
Simon Middle School, still growing its program, competed in non-varsity and grabbed a 2nd Division showing in Concert, Wallace Middle School non-varsity scored a 3rd Division in Concert and Sightreading, and Barton’s non-varsity had 2nd Divisions in both Concert and Sightreading.
